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Editor’s Note: The Grind is a weekly column
that asks a revolving cast of young founders to take us through
the daily rigors of running a business, as well as offer up
advice on how they achieved milestones or overcame challenges.
Follow The Grind on Twitter with the hashtag #ENTGrind.

It was the Fourth of July and my team decided to head over to a
friend's pool to work on our startup Vayable, a platform to
request, design and book unique travel experiences. Whether on
laptops or splashing around with cocktails in hand, it didn't
matter: Everyone was together and celebrating our journey.
Moments like this is what makes being part of a startup so
special.

I, the founder of the company, missed that moment. As our team
piled into cars to unwind and enjoy the holiday, I stepped into
the passenger seat of my mom's Honda CRV to head to the emergency
room. I clutched my abdomen with tears dripping down my face in
pain. This was my second time at the hospital in the past 24
hours.

After hours of tests, doctors revealed the culprit of my physical
pain: stress. The pain was possibly an ulcer. I felt embarrassed
and guilty for wasting medical resources, my mother's time and
missing a day of team bonding because of an ailment of my own
making. But I wasn't surprised it had come to this.

Two years earlier, before we had users, a product, a team or
investors, Vayable had one asset: me, a "wantrepreneur" with an
idea. Vayable wouldn’t stand a chance if I didn't maintain a high
level of energy, enthusiasm and sharpness. I went on daily runs,
meditated and lived almost entirely on homemade green smoothies
and dinners of salads and cooked vegetables. Feeling strong and
energized, Vayable and I set sail.

Within a few months, I had a growing user base, a product, team
and capital from outside investors. As our assets multiplied, my
health slowly moved to the back burner. I've watched the same
thing happen to other founders.

We founders fall prey to viewing ourselves as martyred heroes who
slave away at our startups to change the world. However, we’re
the only participants in this romanticizing of martyrdom. We
provoke one another with stories about how we haven't slept for
two days or forgot to eat until 10 p.m. We wear our health
sacrifices like a badge. We tell these stories with a feigned
disdain and silent pride.

Are we really proud of this kind of behavior? Can we honestly say
that this way of living makes us more successful and helps the
growth of our companies? I can't.

Lying in the hospital bed last month, I realized that in trying
to be strong and selfless, I had done the opposite. When I put my
health on the back burner, I was weak and selfish. For Vayable to
succeed, I still need to be just as sharp, energetic and
enthusiastic as I was on day zero, if not more so.

As a founder, you may be experiencing similar anxiety that comes
along with building a startup. Here are signs you may need a
self-intervention.

Founder grays
Did starting your company feel like fertilizer for grays on your
head? I call these founder grays.

When anxiety arises, it's time to let loose. Getting into a state
of child-like play not only relieves tension but also lends
itself to creativity, which could result in new, innovative
solutions to problems. If you want to learn more, check out this
inspiring talk on the topic by Beau Lotto, a neuroscientist who studies
perception.

Forgetting to eat or sleep
I find this is surprisingly common among my founder friends. It's
so basic, yet so hard to correct once you've established a
pattern. If you are having trouble catching up on z's or your
stomach is constantly grumbling, try:

• Scheduling team lunches where laptops aren't allowed and the
focus is on enjoying lunch and sharing life updates.
• Keep your kitchen at work and home stocked with food.
• Make dinner plans outside the office, as it provides a welcome
evening break.
• Meditate for 10 minutes before going to bed, which can help
transform your quality of sleep.
• If you find your mind racing, don't beat yourself up. Try
counting your breaths up to 10 and repeat until your thoughts
quiet.

How have you overcome the stresses of running a
startup? Let us know in the comments below.